Non-immigrant visas for temporary visits to the u.s.
There are many categories of non-immigrant visas. The proper non-immigration visa for you would depend on the purpose of your visit, your living situation (showing that you have the intent to return), and your country of nationality. The primary non-immigrant visa categories are as follows:
B-1/B-2. This category is for foreign nationals who demonstrate that he/she has a residence in a foreign country which he/she has no intention of abandoning and who is entering the United States temporarily for business (other than for the purpose of study or to perform skilled or unskilled labor, or as a representative of foreign press, radio, film, or other foreign information media coming to engage in such vocation), or to engage or participate in recreational activities.
E-1/E-2. This category is for non-immigrant treaty traders and investors that provide for the admission of nationals of a foreign state, which has a treaty of commerce and navigation or a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) with the United States to enter the United States to engage in activities relating to trade or investment.
H-1B. This category is for persons coming to perform services in a specialty occupation which requires theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and attainment of a baccalaureate or higher degree or its equivalent as a minimum requirement for entry into the occupation in the United States.
J-1. This category is for foreign students, research scholars, specialists, professors, medical interns and residents, international visitors, and industrial and business trainees who enter the United States to participate in a United States government approved exchange visitor program for the purpose of acquiring training, experience, conducting research, or teaching in a field of specialty. A United States organization must obtain prior approval from the United States Department of State (DOS) in order to be designated as a sponsor of an exchange visitor program.
L-1. This category is for intracompany transferees who, within the three years preceding the time of his application for admission to the United States, has been employed abroad for one continuous year (six months under the L-1 Blanket) by a qualifying organization, and who seeks to be admitted temporarily to the United States to be employed by a branch, parent, affiliate, or subsidiary of the qualifying organization in a managerial, executive, or specialized knowledge capacity.
O-1. This category is for persons who have an extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics, which has been demonstrated by sustained national or international acclaim and who is coming to the United States for an activity or event.
TN. This category was created by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and is for Mexican and Canadian professionals who seek temporary entry into the United States to engage in business activities at a professional level.
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